They say - never say no to money or prison. Any of us can - either for a minor offense or by accident - end up in a cell. For a few hours or for a few months. And this place is difficult. You can get minor damage or major troubles there in a couple of minutes and with a few extra words.

These tips are not intended for professional criminals. They themselves give advice to anyone. For example, in the early eighties, a group of people were engaged in “dispersal” (under the guise of police officers, they conducted “searches” of factory workers and “seized surpluses”). When they were arrested by KGB officers, the “policemen” spun something about treason to the Motherland. Charges under this article were not even brought forward - it quickly became clear that this was a lie. But people got the opportunity, instead of the smelly dungeons of the pre-trial detention center, to sit in warm cells of the internal KGB pre-trial detention center. And they didn’t communicate with “shitty cops,” but with KGB investigators in ties. And they didn’t eat gruel...

First of all, decide for yourself how long you will have to sit. Options - 3 days, 10 days, a month, before trial (for us - from several months to several years), term according to the verdict. A lawyer can help you with this. Having assessed the circumstances of the case, he must honestly outline the prospect.

The fewer people you meet on your prison journey, the better. It is advisable to avoid unnecessary meetings - with “frostbitten” criminals or minors (which is much worse), chamber agents, etc. Loneliness is isolation.

First, you can come to an agreement with the investigators. You can ask, but that's up to you.

The prisoners are sitting in a cell. They brought them food. One prisoner hesitated and the rat stole his rations. Without thinking twice, he takes the shoe and throws it at the rat. He hit and killed.

The godfather looked at the dead rat and said:

You are a thief, I am a thief, a rat stole bread - that means he is also a thief. So that means you’re like... I give you until the morning, if you don’t come up with an excuse, we’ll drop it.

The man thought and thought, did not sleep all night, and in the morning he answered:

Yes, I’m a thief and you’re a thief, a rat stole bread - that means he’s also a thief, so why would she want to sit with us or something...

Secondly, you can go on a hunger strike. Don't be afraid - going on a hunger strike for several days has never harmed anyone. All actions of this kind must be documented, signed by officials. And the higher the position of the person who signs your application, the better. The minimum is a supervising prosecutor. But it wouldn’t hurt to send such a statement higher - right up to the Prosecutor General. You need to act through a lawyer. Many people, having signed your declaration of hunger strike, will send him “to the bucket.” Do not go on a “dry” hunger strike (refusing food and water). This is detrimental to health, but for business there is no benefit.

Thirdly, you can “sacrifice” your health. There are diseases whose diagnosis is long and difficult. For example, coronary heart disease... You will need to be transferred under the supervision of a doctor. Or they may even release you completely. It is unlikely that an ordinary person imprisoned on a minor charge, who has not attended prison “universities” or does not have a higher medical education, should feign mental illness. They will quickly expose you.

Fourthly, there is an unconventional way. You can confidentially whisper to the investigator that, for example, you have the impression that your cellmate intends to encroach on your honor. And you may not be able to resist and solve this issue radically - for example, by strangling it. Ask them not to say anything to the operators. 99% - you will be transferred alone.

Let’s assume that your detention was not limited to three days and your period of detention was extended to 10 days, or even up to a month.

If you have already gone on a hunger strike, you need to decide what to do next. A long fast will not do any good. You can interrupt your hunger strike and then declare it again, following the same rules.

But suppose you were “evicted” from solitary confinement - you broke your hunger strike or the illness “did not go away”. It is preferable to sit in a “small place” (sparsely populated cell). If you are lucky and your neighbors in such a cell will be robbers, emergency workers, etc., you can serve the entire term without any “registrations,” harassment, “swindles,” etc.

As I already said, this article is not intended for professional criminals. And the common man should know that proper relationships with the investigator and the detectives are very important.

If you behave normally with them, then your chances of getting into the “small place” are greater. Let's assume that nothing worked out for you and you were placed in a general cell (30-40 people), filled with criminals. Despite the fact that during perestroika, newspapers made money by describing the horrors that await a person entering a cell for the first time, in fact, no one is particularly thirsty for your blood. But if there is a “tail trailing” behind you in the form of information that you have “turned over” your friends to the operas, have committed a crime that is not liked in prison (rape, child molestation, etc.), then you may have to not sweet. If everything is clean, then you can run into trouble mainly through your own fault.

If a homosexual is caught on camera, it is better to say so directly. In this case, he will sleep and eat with the “roosters”, but the attitude towards him will be different from the attitude towards the “roosters” who earned their status due to “wrong” behavior.

Anyone entering the cell must undergo registration. People over 40 years of age and those who are obviously ill will most likely not be forced to do it. An elderly person should immediately declare that he is “determined to be a man” (that is, he will work, and if required, pay into the “common fund”). It is unlikely that he will be forced to participate in thieves' affairs. True, you can drop out of the “men” - with a demotion. If, for example, you steal from your own people (“rafting”), talk too much, get caught having connections with opera houses, etc.

There are cases when registration was paid off for several thousand dollars - through a lawyer.

“Registration” is actually a formal interrogation in order to determine what kind of person “came to us.” This is understandable - people who are going to spend some time in the same room do not want unnecessary problems. For example, they can - without knowing it - eat at the same table with the “rooster” for a week or two. And this is fraught with trouble for authorities.

When registering - and in a cell in general - there is one main rule: you need to tell the truth. If a person committed rape and said that he was slandered, they may believe him. But if it turns out that he did deceive his cellmates, then they will not forgive him for this.

"Registration" is a ritual. Its rules, which have evolved over decades, can make a terrifying impression on a person entering the cell for the first time. They may shout at you, hit you several times, or provoke you. But no one sets out to cause serious bodily harm; rather, this is done as a preventative measure. Athletes entering the camera for the first time sometimes take it all seriously and start a real fight. There have been cases where such people received serious injuries.

Formally, “registration” consists in the fact that you are asked questions, and you are obliged to answer. If you are not an experienced criminal, there is no need to pretend to be a seasoned criminal. Tell us honestly about yourself. If you don't know the rules of life in a cell, say so. When asked whether you will follow the rules, it is better to answer yes.

There are many typical questions. A six-five domino is shown. You are prompted to choose. After the choice has been made, they can announce that five means “rooster”, and six means “six” (spoonwash). Or you could choose a line between them, which means nothing.

Especially for a beginner, hooks for clothes numbered 5 and 6 can be left free. But things can also be thrown on a bed or bench...

They may ask the question: “You are flying on a parachute. On the left is the sea g..., on the right is the forest x... Where will you land?” There is no time to think, you need to answer quickly. The correct answer has a philosophical connotation: “In every sea there is an island, and in every forest there is a clearing.” They may ask the question: “In a hopeless situation, you will have to either frame her... or sell your mother. What will you do?” The answer is categorical: “F... is not being substituted, the mother is not for sale.”

“The correct question when registering is: “Are you going to sell your mother or are you going to fuck her up?”
Answer: “Your mother is not for sale, your ass is not for sale”

They may ask another question: “There are two chairs, on one the peaks are sharpened, on the other the dicks are jerked off. Where will you sit?”
Answer: “I’ll take the sharpened peaks and cut off the jerked dicks!”

If a person has not passed registration, he is defined as a parachute, and upon regaining consciousness he feels himself in this place. A parachute is not yet a rooster, but it is no longer a man (or a “boy” in his youth). From a parachute you can become a man at any time. You need to pour a bucket of water on yourself, shout “Goodbye, parasha!” and try to register again. The rooster, of course, does not have such an opportunity."

It is clear that you may or may not guess the correct answer. If you answer incorrectly, most likely the maximum you will face is a few blows. But those who persist in delusions may receive an offer to make a decision - to go to the “roosters” or to the “sixes”. This is where “working back” is already very difficult. But you can: in some cases, if you apologize, you will be beaten, perhaps you will pay, but you will get away with it.

The last option is that you will have to sit for quite a long time. There is no point in going on a hunger strike here. Get ready for life in a cell, “registration” and communication with criminals. Try to cause as little trouble as possible for your neighbors and you can get rid of many problems. For example, if you spoil the air in the cell, you may be “charged” and beaten. The boss will not answer for snoring in the cell, but you will.

Don't sit down to play cards. You may be offered to “play for nothing”, and then it turns out that “just for the sake of it” means a lot of money or your ass.

You should not spit on the floor. Be very careful with swear words. They may ask: “Who did you have?” And they will demand to prove it. And when you can't, you'll have to answer.

And in general, you need to be very precise in your wording, otherwise you might get caught by the tongue. Literally - with a pin.

In general, the main rule is that if you don’t want trouble, behave with restraint. Most of the troubles people got in prison were their own fault. Like the man who, upon entering the cell, announced: “Hello, assholes!” They explained to him that this word was not good. Rising from the floor, he exclaimed: “They should have said that right away! Otherwise they crowed like roosters!”

How to survive in prison? What to do if you are detained or arrested? The questions are not idle. The situation with the detention of video blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky clearly showed that in modern Russian realities anyone can end up behind bars - for a carelessly spoken word on the Internet, for a repost on social networks, for a stupid picture. But the people who post pictures and conduct video blogs, as a rule, are far from criminal life, so sudden detention and placement in a temporary detention facility (hereinafter referred to as a pre-trial detention center and, if you’re really unlucky, a colony) can be a real shock for them. A person who finds himself in such a situation can easily do something stupid, turning his life into a real hell.

There are more and more blatant cases of “landings” in Russia. We decided to consult with people who have extensive experience in places, as they say, “not so remote.” These are Alexey Kuznetsov (more than 10 years in the camps, runs his own channel about life in prison on YouTube, is engaged in human rights activities), Andrey Reut (served 17 years), Alena (she asked not to indicate her last name and term, works in a law firm), as well as the famous Ural human rights activist Alexey Sokolov. Here are their tips.

Detention. Be quiet

Almost every landing begins with detention. This can happen on the street, at work, at university, on public transport. They may be detained after a search or interrogation. Detention is not an arrest. Sometimes detainees are released after testifying or establishing the necessary facts. But sometimes, at the moment of detention, a person says goodbye to freedom for a long time. It is important not to lose composure here.

Reut: As a rule, if a person has never fallen into the hands of government officials, after detention he experiences shock and fear. All illusions regarding law enforcement agencies are crumbling. A person is faced with rudeness and cynicism, understands that he is just a bug. The first thing you will encounter is intimidation, sometimes beating, and torture is not excluded. After all, the “suspect” is already guilty – that’s what investigators and operatives think. And it’s very difficult to get an apology or explanation later. It is advisable to know a lawyer or a lawyer familiar with criminal practice. If there are no such people, then it is better to be patient and not slander yourself, since in the future ALL your words will be used against you. Regardless of the alibi, defense witnesses, or lack of evidence of your guilt. Declare that you will not testify without a lawyer (lawyer) chosen by your family or yourself. Article No. 51 of the Constitution: a citizen has the right not to testify against himself. In general, it is better to overcome fear, confusion and pain, but not to incriminate yourself; any word can be distorted in the interrogation report.

Kuznetsov: When a person is detained, the main thing is not to panic and understand that his fate depends on the first measures that will be taken against the detainee. In the first days of detention, by his actions he lays the foundation for the future - release or imprisonment. The security forces understand all this very well and therefore try to work as hard as possible in the first minutes and days of detention, hoping that their victim, in a panic, not understanding anything, will behave to please them. Security forces, as a rule, in the first minutes and days of detention try to limit any contacts with the outside world for the detainee, slip in their lawyer on duty, who with sweet speeches about a possible immediate release persuades the detainee to do whatever the security forces want, effectively excluding the chances of release, aggravating the situation . At such moments, it is better for the detainee to remain silent and not testify against himself and his loved ones, especially since Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation allows him to do so.

Alyona: No matter how many times you are detained, it’s always like the first time. The circumstances are different, the prerequisites are different and the police are, accordingly, different. But in any case, you need to know your rights. Don’t “download”, but know. This will greatly reduce the risks and will later help with your protection. There are many recommendations that can be given, but each case is individual - and there is a difference if you were detained by a police patrol squad or “bedded” by a rapid response group, and the difference is global. It is worth studying the Law “On the Police,” which clearly states the duties and rights of police officers.

Sokolov: First, when they come to your home, you need to look at the documents. They are required to introduce themselves, show identification and a search or arrest warrant. Everyone deserves a phone call. You can call before you open the door. You need to contact a lawyer. If you don’t have a lawyer, call your relatives or friends so that they can refer a lawyer. You can, of course, try to say that you won’t let the police in until the lawyer arrives, but in this case they can break down the door. You can let them in and give the phone to the lawyer to let him know he’s coming. Employees may not care about it, but then you can bring it up in court. If a lawyer is absent, it is best to record procedural actions on a video camera. You need to demand from employees that searches are carried out in your presence. First in one room, then in another and so on. So that it doesn’t turn out that all the employees scattered into the rooms and came out with drugs, ammunition or something else. Witnesses must be present during the search. Either these are “tame” witnesses, or they attract neighbors.

We need to find out who is in charge of the investigation team, who makes the decisions. Any violation must be brought to the attention of witnesses. This must be reflected in the search report. At the end, you can indicate all violations. It is necessary. Because later you can refer to it. The next stage is interrogation. During this interrogation, if there is no lawyer, then it is better to take Article 51. Because imagine the psychological state of a person when people come to you, get you out of bed at six in the morning, and start roaming around your rooms - it’s a shock.

Even if a lawyer is appointed, you can work with him. Ask him to record violations. Consult him. (At the next stages, it is highly advisable to acquire a lawyer by agreement - see the next paragraph).

IVS. Do not believe

After your arrest, you will most likely be sent to a temporary detention center, or temporary detention facility. This is a police facility where you can be held for up to 48 hours without a court order. This is not a pre-trial detention center or a prison yet, but only their “waiting room.”

Andrey: While in a temporary detention facility, a citizen understands and feels that life is not so wonderful. The lack of sunlight in the cell, the lack of clean air and, often, unsanitary conditions weaken many people mentally. But we must not forget that there may be even worse living conditions ahead. Therefore, you should not trust cellmates... Many cooperate with investigators, some work for them. If in a cell where only first-time detainees are kept, there is a citizen covered in tattoos, telling how easily and simply he lived in the zone, know: this is an employee of those who interrogated you the day before, with a 99 percent guarantee. You may be offered an “on-duty” lawyer during interrogation or other investigative action. Don't agree! The lawyer on duty, as a rule, begins to persuade you to confess to the crime that you are charged with, with the explanation that this will give you less money, or they will let you go home on your own recognizance. As a rule, such “disservice” from the duty lawyer will later cost you tears and, most likely, threaten a real prison sentence. There are also appointed lawyers who honestly earn their bread and reputation, but there are only a few of them. Therefore, I suggest you think carefully and look at where and what to sign for.

Alexei: From the first minutes, you need to understand that you find yourself in a part of another world, where operational measures can be carried out against you, using your cellmates, who seem to be constantly being called out of the cell by either investigators or lawyers. In fact, they constantly go to the operators to leak information about you and receive new tasks for your development. From the first step into this other world, the detainee must be a “simpleton” who, upon entering the cell, simply says: “Hello everyone.” At the same time, it is internally necessary to maintain a wolfish defense and at any moment make decisions in accordance with internal perception. For a moment of weakness you can pay for decades, or maybe even eternity.

While in the temporary detention center for the first days, you must understand that the investigator depends on your testimony, and you depend on the investigator - use this to inform your loved ones and relatives that you have been detained. Tell the investigator: yes, I agree to give explanations and testimony, but inform my loved ones and relatives about my arrest so that they hire me a lawyer, after meeting with whom we will actively carry out procedural actions. Act as if you are running towards the investigator with leaps and bounds.

When a hired lawyer arrives, through him you will be able to inform your loved ones and relatives of any information, since your meetings will be confidential, this is the law.

If there is no hired lawyer, do not trust the appointed duty lawyer, since this is the same investigator, prosecutor and judge rolled into one.

You will not be kept in a temporary detention center for a long time, and if you are arrested, you will be taken to a pre-trial detention center. This is a new test - you seem to have adapted to the temporary detention center, but here again there is something new and scary.

Alyona: What is a temporary detention facility... First of all, it is a vacuum of uncertainty, in which even an experienced person begins to paint pictures of the best outcome. But, unfortunately, this does not always work out. And even a small fly, in the absence of awareness of one’s rights, the rules of the law and much more, can turn into a good elephant.

Lawyer from the state. It's free, so it often doesn't care about you. He is not a doctor and did not take the Hippocratic Oath. He does not really imagine that a person who is imprisoned can simply be killed or left behind. This is not in any article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, but there are hundreds of cases. The lawyer understands that, having interviewed the suspect or accused and remaining for him “only” the duty lawyer, all he can count on is pennies from the state. You should not condemn them for following the path of least resistance, offering to write a confession and go to trial in a special manner. He does not do this without the consent of the accused.

Sokolov: Life in a temporary detention facility... These are four bunks, a table, a toilet enclosed by a brick wall, a washbasin, windows. In a temporary detention facility, I advise you not to talk to anyone, not to discuss not only your case, but also other aspects of your personal, professional life, parents, and relatives. Because it is at this stage that operatives use the services of “mother hens.” They pump out all the information that is used against you.

In the temporary detention center you can receive parcels. You need to read about this in the operating rules of the isolator.

Pre-trial detention center. “Who are you in life?”

If the court decides to arrest, the person is transferred from the temporary detention center to the pre-trial detention center. This is almost a real prison. You can spend many months here, while formally you remain an innocent person - you were simply isolated to make it more convenient to conduct investigative actions.

Andrey: From the temporary detention center you can be taken to a pre-trial detention center, that is, to prison. It has its own procedures and rules, which it is advisable for a “newbie” who has never been in the cell system to know. What to take with you? What is possible? Of course, hygiene items: soap, toothpaste and brush, socks, panties, T-shirts (preferably plain, black or gray). Cigarettes, tea, coffee (even taking into account the fact that you personally do not smoke), as you can always treat your fellow inmates, which will give you the opportunity to win people over. You cannot carry sharp objects, belts or laces with you. Therefore, choose shoes without laces. The same goes for trousers; it’s better to have a tracksuit - it’s more practical.

Don’t forget, when you find yourself in a pretrial detention cell, it is better to be restrained and extremely polite with your cellmates. You shouldn’t rely on your own strength, the atmosphere and rules of life are different here. When entering the cell, greet the prisoners with the words: “Peace and prosperity in the hut (cell), warmth and health to the prisoners, it was great (to say simply “great” is not accepted, since this can be answered with an indecent saying - author’s note), greetings to the decent people." At first glance, these words may seem funny, but they are not. The prison lives its own life.

There are so-called VIP cells in the prison. They exist, for example, in the Yekaterinburg Central. I even had a chance to sit there once. These are cells with two beds. If memory serves, from 411 to 420. There are plastic windows, everything is clean, renovations have been done. Even the food in these cells is much better: they give you meat and rich soup. You can't get a job in such a cell for money. The administration looks at the personality of the convicted person. For example, [former vice-president of the City Without Drugs Foundation] Evgeniy Malenkin sat in one of these. But I didn’t stay there for long, I asked to join the general one. I need communication, I'm used to being with other prisoners. In addition, my cigarettes were constantly being consumed by the youngsters in the neighboring cells; I could not refuse them. And the isolation was pressing. That's why I asked to go to the general one.

We must not forget that no one can offer you an action that discredits your name or offends human dignity. Anyone who dared to do this is not a good person, not a “decent prisoner,” and such a person must be boldly spoken to to his face for his action! Otherwise, you will experience many unpleasant moments from life “outside your will.” For example, the first move ends up in a prison. If he is asked, say, to do cleaning for others, then he has the right to refuse. Everyone lives here and cleans up after themselves. They cannot force him. In each cell there is a person who is considered “sane”; he resolves various conflict situations. You can always turn to him if they try to treat you unfairly, he is obliged to react. The use of force is not respected in prison. Even if you want to receive a certain service from the “blue” (offended), you cannot use force against him, you must come to an agreement with him. Otherwise they will ask you.

Regarding writing complaints. If you write a complaint regarding your criminal case, no one has the right to interfere with you - neither the convicts, nor the administration, this is your personal matter. If you complain about the conditions of detention, then everyone decides for themselves. There is a possibility that other prisoners under the control of the administration will try to dissuade you. They say, you write, and then they will organize a search for us. But everyone decides for themselves.

Some talk about “Caucasian” cameras that are used to scare people under investigation. Like, we’ll put you in jail, and they’ll tear you to pieces. There is definitely no such thing in the Sverdlovsk region. Caucasians are the same people, perhaps even more reserved and hospitable, they don’t even usually swear. There are no nationalities in prison at all. These edges are erased. Another thing is that we have “limitless” cameras. There is also a pre-trial detention center-1 in Yekaterinburg. These cameras are located in the basements. When some commissions arrive, they are quickly sent somewhere. Then they return it. If you go there, nothing good will happen, of course.

Alexei: Upon arrival at the pre-trial detention center, in the “krikushnik” (the place where the data of prisoners who have arrived in the pre-trial detention center are verified and where they receive additional information according to which the prisoner will be assigned to one or another category of prisoners), the DPNSI (the pre-trial detention center duty officer) will ask for your full name, date of birth, date of birth, article, you are brought in as an accused, until what date is the preventive measure chosen, and then he asks the question: “Who is in life?” or “What color are you?” If you don’t know what to answer, then don’t be confused, say “man” (this is not “red”, not “lowered”, not thieves). This is the “golden mean”. And you'll figure it out over time. Question: “Who in life?” is asked in order to assign you to the appropriate hut, that is, a cell, in accordance with your answer.

When entering a hut, remember that here you are entering someone’s house, in which someone lived and lives before you. Here it is necessary to adhere to the rule: “Don’t go into someone else’s monastery with your own rules.”

When you enter the house, say: “Hello everyone” or “It was great.” Then the “supervisor” (the head of the cell) will call you to talk. From the conversation he will find out what kind of fruit you are. In accordance with his conclusions, the attitude towards you in the house will be built. You must remember: how you place yourself in the house, so it will be. The attitude of others towards you depends on you. Living conditions in a pre-trial detention center are like in a well-kept basement of intelligent homeless people, however, in a pre-trial detention center, the bedroom, toilet and kitchen are one room.

Alyona: A lot can happen in a pre-trial detention center, or rather, anything can happen - it all depends on what kind of person you are in life, what kind of “bag” you have (that is, financial situation and help from outside). Well, some more nuances. Everything is individual. There is only one principle: if you lived like a human being before all the sad events, then after them you will live with dignity.

Sokolov: Complaints must be written about the actions of investigators. All answers must also be appealed. This will all come in handy in court. You need to behave politely with the administration. Some employees will provoke you into rudeness in order to get you involved in new criminal cases. The jailers provoke very professionally - they will get under your skin so that the person loses his temper. This is all done on purpose. A person must be self-disciplined and keep an eye on things. Here, too, there are “mother hens” who leak information to the operational services. Many people do this for tea and cigarettes.

The colony. Red and black

You can end up in a colony either after a temporary detention center or a pre-trial detention center, or without going through these stages. For example, you may be sentenced and taken into custody right in the courtroom.

Andrey: Convicts can be placed in either a general regime or a strict regime, it all depends on the severity of the crime. One way or another, there are no camps left in the Sverdlovsk region that have not fallen under the influence of convicts who are actively cooperating with the administration. Yes, that’s true, the administration, by transferring powers to such convicts, is committing arbitrariness and sometimes lawlessness. A terrible word - chaos. Such camps and zones are called “red”, and this is associated with blood. In such camps, all movements occur in formation or running. While singing songs, sometimes of an offensive nature. I personally know first-hand about torture, humiliation and beatings, so I can say with complete confidence: in the Sverdlovsk region there is chaos on the part of the administration employees and their accomplices in the person of the convicts.

Once in the quarantine department in the penal colony, upon arrival in the zone, almost 100% of newly arrived convicts are there for two weeks. During this time they undergo a medical examination. For your information, there are particularly cruel activists working in quarantine in the “red” zones, collaborating with the administration. After all, it is in quarantine that the initial “breaking” of new arrivals begins. Everything is selected, even hygiene items. A nightmare begins for those who respect themselves and others. Administration employees, as a rule, are not in quarantine, so all powers are assigned to the “active”. All illusions disappear for those who end up in such camps. I have personally heard more than once from those who create chaos: “They will be afraid, they will not sit down again, they will be obedient.” I have been judged many times and I can assure you that those who have gone through this hell become different, and not for the better. Morality breaks down, human values ​​disappear, compassion and empathy die. Only a few, having gone through the nightmares of the camps, become stronger without losing their human appearance.

“Black” camps are different - everything there is based on honesty and decency, insults to individuals or family and friends are unacceptable. Fighting and violence are not welcome. For such a thing there is a strict demand, after which few people will want to violate human principles. They will always help you in word and deed; they will not remain indifferent to sadness and grief.

It is extremely difficult to remain a human in a “red” colony; it requires fortitude and endurance. Many are forced to write receipts: “I will cooperate with the administration.” Currently, videos of torture and “confessions” are being recorded everywhere. Activists and the administration warn that in case of disobedience, all video materials will be shown on domestic TV.

In many “red” camps there are workshops for the production of certain products. The pay is meager, it’s true, but it’s an option to avoid torture and abuse.

Alexei: The prevailing concept in society that in the “red” zones the rules of the internal life of prisoners are set by the administration of the correctional colony, and in the “black” zones - by thieves, are erroneous. The entire policy of the internal life of both the “red” and “black” colonies is set by the administration, and here everything depends on who carries out the administration’s instructions - the “actives” or the criminals (prisoners who are Chtutvorov’s ideas and openly promote them). I would like to note that in the “black” camps I saw more humanity, since the thieves who carry out the instructions of the administration must still maintain the defining image of thieves’ piety in order for the bulk of the prisoners to respect them.

For example, I came to a “black” colony. I ended up in quarantine. The thieves organize to ensure that new arrivals are treated normally by the “red” prisoners, who are also called “goats” in slang. Tea, cigarettes, sweets and other necessities are allocated from the common fund for the period of quarantine (14 days). Even if very modestly, but every day and for everyone. If, God forbid, during quarantine the “goats” in such a camp raised their hand against you, then the thieves must react. Therefore, in such “black” camps there is less torture and violence from the “goats” against the mass of prisoners. Although, to be honest, all this is present there, but to a lesser extent than in the “red” camps.

So I arrived at the “red” camp and ended up in quarantine. Here from the first minutes they start beating you. The “Goats” apply pressure during the entire 14 days of quarantine. By talking with you, the “goats” obtain information about your financial well-being. They look at your reaction to the concessions they offer, for which you must pay, and give you a cell phone to call home, while telling you that for the call, your relatives must put a certain amount of money on the phone or bank card. Naturally, in conditions when you are beaten and humiliated 24 hours a day, a call home is priceless, and you pay... But from now on you will pay for the entire term. They will milk you.

Alyona: One thing can be said about the women’s colony: the “baul system.” Buy, sell, exchange. Concepts as such exist when it is profitable or when there is nothing to lose, and basically everyone who is friends with common sense strives to leave on parole. After all, mothers are there. And when the drug haze subsides, the brain falls into place, then an understanding comes of how little a person needs to be happy: a house, a child, a family. I don't know a single woman who wouldn't want to go home. A woman has nothing to do in a colony, so she shouldn’t go there.

What a colony, such a routine. The difference is in the number of checks - two or three. And the rest depends on the detachment in which you live, the type of your activity and the mental state of the colony administration.

Even in the zone you can keep yourself busy and diversify your leisure time. Some read, some watch films, some take part in amateur activities, some knit, write, draw. Who cares? If a person wants to self-realize, self-express, self-educate - in a good sense of these words (not to be strange and not to shake the regime) - a person will find something to do for leisure and will not become dull over the years that are sentenced to him.

Sokolov: There is a very simple saying: “Don’t believe, don’t be afraid, don’t ask.” She needs to be guided. Also – listen more, talk less. When a person ends up in a colony, he usually internally resigns himself to the fact that he will be in prison. The shock goes away and he begins to actively communicate. But at first it’s better to listen more and try to think, then just talk.

Simple rules for the “first mover” from experienced prisoners

Be who you are. In prison, you shouldn’t pretend to be someone, because masks fall off quickly here. And when the masks come off, the consequences can be bad.
Don't become isolated. You shouldn’t live by the “me and my bedside table” principle. If a person withdraws, it is interpreted as if he considers himself superior to others.

Don't be greedy. Today you have tea and cigarettes, and tomorrow - nothing. Nobody says that you have to give your last, but mutual assistance is always welcome here.
Don't discuss others behind their backs. Here it is called “intrigue.” You cannot gossip about the actions and words of other prisoners. They may ask for “washing the bones.”

Stay away from the "low" ones. There is no escape from reality; in the colonies there is such a caste of people. They sit at separate tables and eat with separate cutlery. You cannot take cigarettes or other items from them. This cannot be washed off throughout the entire period.

Don't be afraid to ask your elders. First movers receive special treatment. If he unknowingly uses some expression that is considered normal in ordinary life, but not in prison, then everything will be explained to him, taught, and no one will immediately make a complaint. For example, if you want to know something, you should say: “I have an interest in you,” since the phrase “I have a question for you” means a specific claim, presented, for which the one you are addressing is obliged to answer.

Everything will be fine. The hope of liberation is something that warms not only the heart of those entering prison for the first time. This is a feeling that unites all prisoners. Remember that even the most dangerous-looking inhabitants of the camp are people just like you. They are simply accustomed to living by different laws. Your task is to accept these laws and live by them. Maintain your dignity and don't put yourself above others. Then you will be treated with respect.

Staying behind bars, even for a short period of time, is a rather difficult process. The laws of the zone are harsh and sometimes downright cruel. But these are real, “reinforced concrete” laws, or “concepts”, as they say on the other side of the gateway. Knowing and following prison laws is essential if a person wants to survive behind bars.
Checking for lice
On the other hand, what is a prison? Let's face it - this is a place where a person is tested for survivability, or rather for survival in extreme conditions. Once imprisoned, a person is obliged to mobilize all his physical and intellectual potential and wage an endless struggle for survival. After all, there are only two exits from the pre-trial detention center - to the zone or to the morgue. The latter, as a rule, ends up as a result of a showdown, suicide or accident. There is a third option - the defendant is found not guilty in the courtroom and sent home. But the likelihood of such a happy ending is so small that we won’t even consider it.

In short, risky, brave people with a king in their heads can trample the zone without any problems. Many people cannot do this. As they say, you can’t stop anyone from living with curly hair. But not everyone can, some people have points.

Almost always, the further status and conditions of a new prisoner’s stay in the criminal environment depend on his first steps, the first minutes of being in the cell. Anyone entering the cell must undergo registration, which in form is an interrogation in order to determine what kind of person has come to the “hut”. After all, people have to spend some time together in one enclosed room, and they don’t want unnecessary problems. For example, eating at the same table for a week or two with a “rooster” who has not declared his suit is fraught with trouble even for the toughest authorities. That’s why they question the newcomer in the cell so meticulously.

Most likely, people over forty, obviously ill people and psychotics will not be forced to register. For an elderly person, if there are no “shoals” around him, the thieves will immediately declare that he is designated as a “man.” That is, sometimes he will work to tidy up the “hut” and pay into the “common fund”. No one will force him to participate in thieves' affairs. True, you can drop out of the “men”, and with a demotion. If, for example, you steal from your own people (“rafting”), talk too much and bother the thieves with your questions, and also get caught having connections with operas.

There is one more ironclad rule - when registering (and generally while in a pre-trial detention center cell), you should always tell the truth. Even if a person committed rape, one should state this directly and tell about all the circumstances of the case. Surely there will be some mitigating circumstances (excluding cases of rape of minors). In the first case, the gang will carefully discuss the topic (discuss the situation) and will not put much pressure on the rapist. Today, no one will “put down” the “shaggy safe cracker” (rapist) and punch him in the ass. In the worst case, he will be offered to move closer to the bucket. But if it turns out that the “Kent” deceived his cellmates with a big deal (crime), he will never be forgiven for this.

So be honest about yourself. If you don't know the rules of life in a cell, say so. When asked whether you will comply with the rules and concepts, it is better to answer “yes”. Few people know that according to the concept, a person who has not passed registration and is classified as a “parashnik” or “devils” has the right to a second attempt to register correctly.

To do this, you need to go to the middle of the “hut”, pour a bucket of water on yourself, shout “goodbye, parasha!” and try to register again. This time, the first mover already has some prison experience and can more adequately answer the tricky questions of his cellmates. "Rooster", of course, does not have such an opportunity.

One more thing. Today, when market relations have penetrated beyond the walls of the prison, there are cases when first-time residents paid off their registration by contributing several thousand dollars to the common fund.

Frostbitten athlete

Registration is an important prison ritual. Its rules have evolved over decades, and a person entering a cell for the first time can be intimidating.

They may shout at you, hit you several times, or provoke you in every possible way. But at the same time, no one sets the goal of inflicting serious bodily harm on the newcomer; rather, this is done as a preventive measure. Athletes who come into camera for the first time often take such attacks seriously and start a real fight. And this is a serious “jamb”, for which serious punishment is due.

Personally, I witnessed the following incident with my own eyes. One day they assigned a muscle racketeer to our cell. He was a huge guy who was a professional boxer. With a bullish neck, huge muscles, a pumped up torso and one gyrus, which, apparently, was not in the head, but just below the back. On the very first evening they tried to register him. The jock answered the questions slowly, but within the acceptable limits. The “bull” has almost passed registration. To complete it, one of the criminals, nicknamed Skula, lightly hit the athlete in the chest. The boxer responded with a crushing right hook and rushed into the fray, inflicting grievous bodily harm on the lessons that prescribed him. As a result, three thieves went to the hospital. The boxer was transferred to another “hut”, but three weeks later he was “cocked” there at night.

“The second part of the Marlezon ballet”

The attitude towards intellectuals in the zone is generally tolerant. In the criminal world, they need to behave simply, but with dignity. Inmates, as a rule, have incomplete secondary education. Their interests are very limited - drugs, chifir, porn, exchange of opinions on criminal cases. Therefore, it is possible to establish communication. It is useless to argue with cellmates; conflicts with prisoners do not end well.

However, there is a difference between intellectual and intellectual. One day a slender wimp showed up in our “hut”, who obviously didn’t sniff buckets. The friar's name was Lenya Finkelstein, and in life he was a typical huckster. He had some kind of business, but went to prison for tax fraud. He passed registration quite easily and was assigned to the “men”. But Lena was not destined to remain in this suit.

Some researchers claim that one hundred percent of the population of planet Earth suffers from mental disorders to one degree or another. In other words, we are all mentally inadequate. But Lenya clearly stood out against this background due to the scope of his illness. He suffered from full-blown musical schizophrenia. Every morning began with a small chant. First, thieves' verses were sung. Then Lenya smoothly switched to the classics and performed various arias. Then there was a sharp transition to the White Guard theme. After lunch, washing his belongings in a basin near the brakes, Lenya gave out all the pearls from the multi-part television film about “The Three Musketeers”. Like “Burgundy, Normandy, Champagne or Provence...”, “A shabby saddle will hold it together again...”, “There is a black pond in the count’s park, where lilies bloom...”. And when announcing the title of the song, he always added: “The second part of the Marlezon ballet!”

The thieves were furious at such folk art, but they could not do anything. They will tell the singer to “shut up,” he will be silent for a couple of minutes and begin again: “The Cardinal ate broth with Madame Eguillon...” or “Constance, Constance...”. At the same time, Lenya did not formally violate any prison laws and it was impossible to punish him. The lafa ended when Lenya, climbing onto his horse, began to sing a song that was creepy by prison standards.

Prison jargon reflects the specifics of the criminal subculture. Currently it contains over 10,000 terms and words. “The language of prisoners” expresses the socio-psychological relations between prisoners and, depending on the region of the country, some statements may differ significantly. Let's talk about the slang greeting "evening at the house." What this phrase means and how to answer it correctly can be read in this article.

Prison jargon

The origins of prison slang date back to the early 18th century. He absorbed the professional terms of street vendors, sailors, prostitutes and beggars.

Reasons forcing prisoners to talk “over a hairdryer”:

• Identification of "sent". First of all, we are talking about law enforcement officers, who, in order to collect the necessary information, are introduced into the cell under the guise of experienced authorities. New arrivals, to check and confirm their status, undergo a kind of exam. And it is precisely in linguistic slang that they often fail;
• Internal communication. While serving his sentence, the prisoner tries to diversify his vocabulary. Internal life in the zone, which is associated with work and evening rest, is monotonous: every day the prisoner does the same things. In order not to fall into complete depression, cellmates communicate in prison jargon, which gives their statements incredible imagery and expressiveness.

The unprecedented functionality of prison slang has led to the fact that some words have become firmly established in our everyday life. Examples:

• « Grandmas" - money,
• « Nice" - danger,
• « Bazaar" - talk,
• « Party" - gathering,
• « Blat" - acquaintance",
• « Nervous" - to be nervous, etc.

Surely some of the listed terms are included in your vocabulary and you are puzzled and surprised.

"Evening in the prisoners' house"

If we look at the criminal subculture in more detail, we can note that prison greetings have a special status: “Peace to our home,” “Hello to the honest lads,” “Hello, boys!” Consider the meaning of the statement “evening in the hut”:

• Newbie. Saying the phrase " evening in the house prisoners", the new arrival greets his new cellmates. Civilian equivalent: Hello everyone;
• End of the day. After a day of work in an industrial zone, prisoners greet each other. Explanation: another day has passed safely, and another step has been taken towards the date when the prisoner will be released;
• Have a nice evening. As evening approaches, life in the cells changes: chifir is drunk, cards are played, etc. The prisoners relax.

To the greeting “evening in the house” the phrase “an hour of joy” is sometimes added - a wish to spend the evening with pleasure (peacefully, without a showdown, etc.) and, so that the chifir is not bitter, but sweet, they add - “chifir in sweetness!".

“AUE - evening at home”

To the greeting " evening at home", sometimes an abbreviation is added AUE. What does this mean:

• Newcomer. He greets the lads, and with the term AUE (A - Arrestantsky, U - Uklad, E - Edin) as if he says - he agrees to live according to the prison rules. Here we should make a digression and say a few words about criminal concepts. If a person enters the zone for the first time, then you should not “rush” to AUE, but admit from the very threshold that you are not fully familiar with the way of life and ask the “brothers” to explain what is what;
• Authority. The phrase is pronounced by the most authoritative person in the chamber. In this way, he reminds that the evening has begun, the guards will not disturb them (they even have a phrase: day for the cops, night for the thieves) and they can go about their business. Someone will take out forbidden items hidden by him (for example, drugs), another will call relatives, etc.

At night, after 20:00, the activity of the guards decreases, and the prisoners begin to feel freer. The probability of failures with inspections is close to zero, the time comes when prisoners become the “masters of the prison,” at least for a short time.

How should you respond to “evening at the house”?

You can respond to the greeting “Evening at the house” in different ways:

• Experienced. They answer, “Good to you too, tramp” or “Good to you too, if you’re not joking.” If you plunge into the slang, you can wish for “chifir for sweetness”;
• Newbie. In no way should you respond with “hello” or similar civil phrases. This may be considered "cheating". The second point is that you cannot mention a specific suit. For example, by answering “Great, guys,” you can offend other prison castes. The best option here would be: “Hello to your home!” or “Hello honest lads!”

The above options are special cases. You can answer with any phrases, depending on the situation: “ good luck, guys"(if a card game is planned), “ let's start a chifirchik"(if cellmates are going to drink chifir), etc.

Prison lyrics and tattoos

In addition to the catchphrases used in the zone, prison lyrics and tattoos are held in high esteem among prisoners. Lyrics provided by songs:

• Mothers theme- the texts tell how the prisoner loves and respects his mother;
• Law enforcement- negative motives;
• About Me- as a rule, these are tirades of a pitiful nature (got to jail by accident, etc. exculpatory topics).

The most common tattoos:

Prison customs

Even in places “not so remote” the set of rules, customs, moral values ​​and norms of behavior is always held in high esteem:

• Driven(nickname) - assigned not only to new arrivals, but also to security guards. When a newcomer enters a hut, he shouts, “Prison, give me a name,” and receives the so-called “click”;
• Bozhba(oath) - if you promised something to your cellmates, you must definitely fulfill it. It's strictly in the zone with this. Broke an oath - lost in suit (movement to category roosters or offended);
• Entertainment(cards) - played on just(spend your leisure time) or of interest(game with bets). Newcomers are not recommended to play for fun - there is a high probability of being deceived and losing. Interests in the wild and in the zone are different. The loser can be made " horse"(slave) or forced " work backwards"(commit an act of homosexuality).

The phrase “evening in the hut”, which simply means for prisoners greetings, reminds you of the onset of night time. A new life begins, and the prisoners have free time, and this is: gambling, communication with other huts, retrieving forbidden items from hiding places, etc.

At the beginning of the 90s of the last century, this catchphrase appeared in the vocabulary of ordinary people - ordinary " Good evening", some guests change to " Evening at home».

Video: how to log in correctly?

In this video, Pug explains the correct phrase to use when entering a prison cell:

You shouldn’t renounce prison; anyone can end up there for several hours, days or months, even for a minor violation. Going to prison is always stressful for an inexperienced person, because the culture and customs of the prisoners differ from the usual ones. But the first stress is followed by the second: how to enter a house in the zone so as not to spoil your impression of yourself on the first day?

The zone is a place where mistakes are not forgiven, and staying there can be aggravated by an incorrectly spoken word or an incorrect action. Therefore, a beginner would benefit from some knowledge of how to enter a hut in the zone. The first day in the zone, prison registration - that is the first link in all subsequent events. What should you not do or say to ensure successful relationships with prisoners?

The behavior of the convicted person is formed from the minute when, through the lawyer, it becomes clear to him how long he is scheduled to spend in the cell before the trial. The fewer people he meets - “youngsters”, “seasoned criminals” - the easier it is. Isolation implies absolute loneliness, which is sometimes negotiated with investigators.

Login and greeting

Before entering a hut in the zone, it is worth keeping in mind that almost everything about you is already known or will be checked very quickly, and flaunting eloquence, as well as adding anything to the truth, is inappropriate. The essential qualities that will be required are communication skills, politeness, self-esteem.

First of all, basic education is necessary: ​​when you enter, you greet people. But if among the cellmates there are “low-down” ones, the person who has become close to them in words will replenish their number. That is, “hello everyone” will not do. Optimal greeting options are recommended: “greetings people”, “great, bros”. Addressing prisoners as “men” is not the best; this word will emphasize the boundary between a despised caste and an honorary title, and will encourage them to check the status of the “man” who enters. They do not shake hands with the first mover until their “purity” is confirmed.

Article, acquaintance, nickname

A towel thrown at your feet, a self-esteem detector is not the end of the acquaintance, after that the same question remains relevant: how to properly enter a hut in the zone without attracting unhealthy attention to yourself? “What were you convicted for?”, “What did you get caught for?” - the newcomer should answer these questions with the article number, without hiding the actual state of affairs, despite his innocence. To the question: “Who are you?” the expected answers are “a tramp” - an authority figure who has found himself behind bars not for the first time, “a man” - a person who has no “mistakes” when he is free, or “a degraded person”.

You should not go to seemingly free bunks. For pioneers, most often there are sleeping places located in the corners. The newcomer may be invited to the table (common fund) to drink tea, and will again be asked to tell in more detail what he was convicted of and who he is. If you have no experience of imprisonment, it is better to say so - the experienced ones will in any case figure out your real essence. Without knowing the rules of life in a cell, it is worth saying it as it is, and expressing agreement regarding their observance. It is better to remain silent about your financial situation or create the impression of a person of average income.

A nickname is a necessity that you can choose at your own discretion, or it will be assigned by society according to the characteristics or behavior of the prisoner. A newcomer can accept or refuse an offensive nickname by answering “no channel” or vice versa: “he is channeling”.

Usually the beholder voices unwritten rules, failure to comply with which is punished especially severely. It is very easy to “get caught” in deeds and words, especially for a beginner. If it is necessary to confront collective disapproval, to extricate oneself from an unconscious mistake, if conventional methods do not work, then prisoners are forced to practice an “unconventional approach” in order to survive and to improve the current situation.

"Unconventional" approach

1. Go on a hunger strike with the involvement of a lawyer and with the signing of a statement about this by higher management, starting from the supervising prosecutor or higher.

2. Declare an allegedly difficult-to-diagnose disease, such as coronary heart disease, or the like, which will make it possible to go under the supervision of a doctor, and in some cases will give a chance of release. But it’s not worth competing with experienced people by simulating unfamiliar illnesses: exposure can be more expensive.

3. There is also a method when the prisoner informally informs the investigator about his suspicions: that his cellmate has shown an intention to encroach on his honor, and that in an attempt to defend himself he may cause bodily harm to the offender. Often the decision is made to place the new arrival in solitary confinement.

4. It is preferable to serve a sentence in a small cell, where neighbors will be violators whose offenses are not related to particularly serious ones - robbers, accident workers. And then the hassle of entering the house, registration in the zone, and the like, will more likely remain unclaimed. But in order to influence the decision on a sparsely populated cell, at a minimum, it is important to maintain respect for the detective officer and the investigator.

5. In some cases, it was possible to pay off large sums of money from staying in a common cell.

6. “Residence registration” can be avoided by elderly people, those who are sick, who upon entry declare that they undertake to pay “to the common fund” and work as much as they are supposed to.

What is "registration"?

If it was not possible to avoid cells with criminals, you will have to register and live under generally accepted conditions.

Initially, no one is inclined to harm the newcomer, but no one is indifferent to what kind of person you have to serve time, communicate and interact with for a long time. Therefore, formally, registration is a test in the form of tricky questions, as a quick way to get to know a cellmate, to understand what kind of attitude he deserves to be treated.

“Registration” has become a kind of ritual of a provocative nature, taking on various shades. Therefore, a beginner without experience will be helped by knowing how to enter a hut in the zone. The first day in the zone reveals the essence of a person and irrevocably marks him, although the purpose of registration is testing, not causing harm. You must answer exclusively truthfully; no lie will be forgiven if discovered.

Often you need to make a choice between two obviously losing options, but an answer that avoids specific values ​​may turn out to be quite satisfactory. Recommendations on how to competently enter a hut in a zone come down to the principle of firmness and unambiguity in answers, in which, however, a philosophical approach is acceptable.

Provocative questions for a newcomer

1. They are asked to choose one of the domino fields: five or six. In the territory of prisoners, the five corresponds to the degraded person, and the six to the slanderer. But if you answer that you chose a “dash” between the fields, the specificity of the answer will not suffer from this. Things symbolic of these concepts sometimes become fatal, like “accidental” hopelessness in the form of a single place or item of use numbered six, which for a beginner can backfire as a potential nuisance.

2. Provocative questions with subtext, requiring immediate answers without hesitation, may look like this: “If there is a sea on the right and a forest on the left, what will you choose when descending by parachute?” With any choice there is a loss, but the solution is in an expanded version: “In every forest there is a clearing, and in the sea there is an island,” and the like.

3. Questions that require categorical answers: “What will you do if, in a hopeless situation, you need to sell your mother or set yourself up?” Answer: “The mother is not for sale, and her own (if mentioned) part of the body is not substituted.”

If you haven't passed the "registration"

For those who did not pass the registration, there is a chance to repeat it again, unlike those who were “omitted,” accompanying the intention with the appropriate ritual and words, usually by pouring a bucket of water on themselves. If the registration has not been completed, the newcomer is forcibly offered to join the “fives” or “sixes”. This state of affairs can be avoided by apologizing, offering payment or work as an alternative.

What kind of criminals are not liked in prison?

Before entering a hut in the zone, you should prepare for the fact that in prison they do not like rapists, child molesters, and homosexuals.

If it becomes known that a prisoner betrayed his friends, which is why they ended up in prison, they will not forget this and will determine the appropriate attitude.

The one who lied can be checked, and if the lie comes to light, it turns out that the prisoner kept silent about his belonging to the “lowered ones”, sitting with fellow prisoners and authorities at the same table, this is not forgiven.

What to avoid

How to spend time usefully

Before entering a hut in the zone, you should think about your time there, and perhaps use it to your advantage - for self-development or something else. In prisons they smoke a lot, the food is also not of the best quality, but there is still the possibility of daily walks, or work, as well as independent physical training. It is recommended to take an active part in activities, go for walks, go to the bathhouse, take care of the body as much as possible, and not reject the possibility of additional distance education, which is encouraged in prisons. If a prison is equipped with a library and equipped with work places, this has a beneficial effect on the psyche and speeds up the passage of time.